The-Wrong-Bride-Ares--Raven’s-story-(Maura,-Catharina)_bibis

“I’m sorry to drop by unannounced,” she says, her head bowed. Her eyes fill with tears, and she
inhales shakily. The way she wraps her arms around herself makes her look so vulnerable, but I’m
convinced it’s all an act. I should’ve known she wouldn’t let me walk away so easily — not with both
Ares and our parents’ company.
“I… there’s no easy way to say this.” She raises her head and looks into my eyes. “I’m… I’m
pregnant.”
She’s… what? My heart drops, and nausea hits me hard, her words replaying through my mind.
Fear unlike anything I’ve ever known holds me captive as I stare at my sister. She looks so
apologetic, but I recognize that glint in her eyes. It’s how she always looked at me when she
pretended to feel sorry for the way Mom favored her over me.
I wrap my arms around myself and take a steadying breath. This can’t be happening.
Her gaze shifts to Ares. “I’m five months along. The baby is, of course, yours.”
Ares tenses beside me and reaches for my hand, entwining our fingers before he places our joined
hands in his lap. It’s clear that he’s in as much disbelief as I am.
“I didn’t realize it for the longest time. You know how irregular my periods are, Ares. It isn’t until
I started to gain weight inexplicably that I thought of doing a pregnancy test. I’ve had no symptoms
whatsoever. No morning sickness, no indications at all. I wasn’t even showing until two weeks ago.
I… it’s a high-risk pregnancy, Ares, and I just… I need you. I can’t do this by myself, and I’m
scared.”
Ares’s free arm wraps around my shoulder, and he squeezes tightly, our hands still entwined in his
lap. I’m scared to even look at him for fear that it’s happiness I’ll find written all over his face. Five
months… that means he slept with her days before we got married. Or shortly after. I bite down on
my lip harshly as I try my best to control my breathing. I can feel panic rising from my chest,
threatening to overwhelm me. Did he cheat on me?
Ares lets go of my hand and grabs his phone. He starts to type before he makes a call. “I need a
doctor,” he snaps. “Send a doctor to my home within the next ten minutes.”
Hannah’s eyes widen. “You don’t believe me?” she asks, shocked.
Ares smiles tightly. “Just covering my bases,” he explains. “If you’re carrying my child, it’s
important that we check your health, isn’t it? Especially if it truly is a high-risk pregnancy.”
His fingers draw circles on my shoulder, no doubt in an effort to reassure me, but nothing can
calm my pounding heart. How could she be pregnant? What does this mean for us? My thoughts are
whirling, and I try my hardest to fight the lightheadedness I feel. I can’t afford to panic right now. I
can see the life I wanted with Ares slip away as Hannah claws her way back into our lives,
smothering me.
The doctor arrives, and I rise to my feet, impatient to get to the heart of this. Does hoping that she
isn’t pregnant make me a horrible person? Ares and I have finally found true happiness together, and
this… this will tear us apart. It was near impossible to focus on my marriage and chase my own
happiness throughout the last few months. How much harder is she going to make it for us once a child
is involved?
“Raven,” Ares says, reaching for me. He places his hands on my shoulders and squeezes tightly.
“I’m yours, no matter what. There’s nothing you and I can’t get through, and this is no different.”
“How is this not different, Ares?” I ask, distraught. “It’s a child. An innocent life.”
He cups my cheek and nods. “Yeah, it is. But let’s take this one step at a time, okay?”
He thinks she’s lying, but I know she isn’t. Hannah is too smart to do something like that. I sit
down in defeat when the doctor walks in with a grim expression. He glances at Ares and nods.